Wataru Endo should be getting more minutes on the pitch for Slot’s Liverpool
The Japanese international played a key role in Liverpool’s victory against Wolves. He came on to play the last 19 minutes of the game and closed the game out superbly, proving to be a proper nuisance for Wolverhampton.
As well as drawing two fouls, he also conceded two fouls, won three out of his five duels and made some key interceptions, while completing 100% of his attempted passes.
Endo’s cameo was exactly the kind of disruption Liverpool needed to provide against a team who had just gained momentum against the Reds.
And in the end it was enough to secure all three points for Liverpool. The only question that remained after the game was why hadn’t Slot used him more often in situations like this?
https://twitter.com/AnfieldIndex/status/1891196254043988434
Endo being under-used, Gravenberch being overplayed?
Out of Slot’s first team players, so not including the academy players, only Tyler Morton, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa have played less minutes than Endo this season.
The trio have all been injured at some points of the campaign but Endo has not. Incredibly even Joe Gomez has played almost 200 more minutes than the Japanese captain.
Endo’s total for the season is 690 minutes so far in 21 appearances. He is one of the least used players in Slot’s squad.
Yet at the same time, Gravenberch is one of the players Liverpool rely on the most. Only Van Dijk and Salah have played more minutes than the Dutch international (2810 minutes).
He’s also covered the most distances for Liverpool in the Champions League (72km) despite missing the last game of the campaign in the league phase.
It’s getting to a stage where he’s getting jaded. There’s a lot of games coming thick and fast in February and it’s clear Liverpool are at a risk of running him to the ground.
That’s not something Slot wants to do. Gravenberch has become one of the best players in the Premier League, he needs to be kept fresh.
More minutes for Endo make sense
And in Endo it’s not like Slot has someone who is incapable of playing an adequate role.
At 32-years-old, Endo does not have the explosive speed that Gravenberch has. He isn’t as technically gifted as the Dutch star.
But the numbers show he is still a valuable tool for Liverpool.
Endo is a net positive player. When he plays Liverpool have a +0.44 xG goals against the xG they concede.
Endo’s biggest asset is his defensive ability.
Out of players who have played at least 500 minutes for Liverpool, no have averaged more tackles and interceptions. Endo is averaging 7 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes combined.
Wataru Endo vs Wolverhamptonpic.twitter.com/2gjKcqH7xs
— 1947prod. (@1947prod) February 16, 2025
As a holding midfielder he is especially impactful in the opposition’s middle third averaging three tackles per 90 minutes in that area.
Meanwhile, he reads the game well, too. Only Gravenberch (1.96 per 90) averages more interceptions (1.62 per 90) than him.
And Endo is excellent in his one vs one duels. Out of Liverpool players who attempt at least 2 tackles, Endo has the second best success rate (62.5%) just behind Joe Gomez (63.2%).
He’s still very capable at making recovery runs and being a disruptor in midfield who can regain possession of the ball.
Gravenberch averages 5.68 recoveries per 90, Endo averages 5.22.
There are caveats here, Endo’s sample size is smaller, he’s played a few games as a centre-back as well but the important take away is that he has shown in the limited minutes he has been given on the pitch that he can be an important defensive anchor, whether that is in midfield or in defence.
Endo is underrated
Endo’s distribution is also deceptively impressive. Among Liverpool’s midfielders, he has the best pass completion rate behind Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch.
Endo averages 89.8%, just marginally behind Gravenberch (90.3%).
And it’s not like Endo is making safer choices. Gravenberch only averages one more progressive pass (5.79) per 90 minutes than Endo (4.78).
Endo has adapted really well to Slot’s style of play after a slow start under the club’s new head coach.
He is showing he’s a player who can be trusted both in possession and out of possession.
Slot needs more bodies from now until the end of the season. Endo’s performance against Wolves was a reminder that the Dutchman has players at his disposal he can use.
In the coming weeks, Endo should be seeing more minutes on the pitch and if he continues to deliver the same numbers that will very much be to Liverpool’s benefit.
